In their words: Reaction to Jim Roberts’ resignation

Batavia head boys varsity basketball coach Jim Roberts, who resigned his position Monday after 27 years, impressed a lot of people over that time. Here are only a few of them ...

Mike Gaspari, former Batavia football coach and athletic director:

First and foremost he was tremendously dedicated to the kids in his program. He put education well ahead of basketball, as all of our coaches at the high school do. In terms of what he provided with the leadership of the basketball program, the work that he did helped put our school on the map in the state of Illinois. I think not only in basketball but educationally as well.

He always treated everybody with dignity and respect. I never saw Jim get upset with an official or another coach or player.

Ryan Sullivan, Batavia assistant:

Coach Roberts has been like a father figure for me ever since my dad passed away almost ten years ago. He’s always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for his profession and that is shown in the great fan support we have had for all these years and the great young men that our program has produced under Coach Roberts’ leadership.

Coach Roberts is the reason that Batavia basketball is known over the state and is so respected for the amount of work he always put in and for always doing things the right way. I can’t begin to say how grateful I am for him giving me the opportunity to work with him on the staff and learn all that I did over the course of the last four years that I have been coaching for him.

Gene Pingatore, St. Joseph coach:

It’s a sad day for basketball because he did such a great job out there, not just for his own team, but promoting basketball. His Night of Hoops was one of the best, if not the best, shootouts we’ve ever participated in. We’ve gone back year after year. It had everything — great teams, great community support...Illinois basketball is going to miss him. I’m hoping that the things that have to be worked out will be worked out and someday he’ll be able to get back into basketball.

Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke (Class of ’67):

The basketball program under him reached an all-time high. My observation has been that by example and through actual teaching on the floor and in the classroom, first and foremost he’s taught dignity, honor and respect to every one of those kids that go into that basketball program. I don’t know how many other schools where a coach spends as much time teaching his players about being responsible, acting with, holding a ball up for some small kids to throw into the hoop. That was what he was all about.

Secondly, what I really admired about him is he really had a strong sense of history, particularly of the basketball program and the success that it’s attained ... I think he stressed that this was our legacy and we’re going to build on this and take this to a new height.

Phil Ralston, Geneva coach:

I think the world of him as a person and as a coach. He and I have had a very nice relationship as competitors, and I was just very sad to hear that (he resigned). I think the state is losing out not only on a great coach, but kind of an end of an era, if you will.

He’s developed a real community base for his program, meaning that he’s got kids at the grade school level that want to play Batavia basketball. For him it’s about the tradition, maintaining the tradition, down to wearing the uniforms that they’ve traditionally worn. He keeps the tradition alive.

From my standpoint it’s kind of sad. It’s sad in the sense that I really enjoyed the rivalry in our games. I always felt — granted, it’s only been four years — that he pushed me to be a better coach, and I had to prepare to be ready for his teams.

Cole Gardner, senior center:

He had a great 27 years at the high school. Doing what he did with the basketball program was unbelievable. Even if you weren’t his player, or in his class, were just a student at the school, he treated you well. He was just a great person.

He’s a really funny guy, actually. Even in practice he’d make people laugh, with stuff you wouldn’t expect, just randomly. He always had funny things to say.

West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman:

I think an awful lot of Jim as a person and as a coach, and I think he’s done an awful lot for basketball not only for Batavia but also in the Fox Valley, and even further than that. He’s a very dedicated coach, not only to winning but to his kids. I really hated to see him give it up, but they’re his own reasons and I think they’re probably pretty good reasons.

Ron Johnson, former St. Charles coach:

Nobody works harder at the game than what Jimmy Roberts has worked. I believe his success came because of his work ethic.

I think that everybody that ever played for him certainly enjoyed the experience and certainly learned a lot of basketball. He’s a very modest person, he doesn’t take a lot of credit for the things he’s done. He’s certainly turned a lot of kids into fine ballplayers, gotten them set up in a lot of colleges. I think he’s done everything you could ask of a coach. He’s certainly well thought-of around this area. I don’t think you’ll get a bad word about him from anyone around here.

Ed Cange, Roberts’ 27-year varsity assistant:

Jim is as evenhanded and as fair a person as you’d ever want to work with. And he’s very loyal. You do things for him and he remembers you. That’s one of the reasons that Batavia’s gotten the chance to play so many teams, is he makes that same relationship with other coaches. They don’t forget it, and when he says, “Hey, would you like to come out to Night of Hoops,” that some of the great programs and great coaches are more than willing to do that.

I think the resounding message that Jim sent was that basketball wasn’t life or death, but that it was important to the people of Batavia. And that the people of Batavia would always support you if you played hard, played smart and played together.

— Compiled by Dave Oberhelman